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“Thanks, babe.” He snuggles back into the pillow while I get dressed.
I brush my teeth and hair before I walk to the kitchen. As I’m taking two cups from the cupboard, Jade comes in, wearing workout clothes. I check the time and gasp, “It’s only six am, and you’ve already been to the gym?”
“Yeah, it’s hard getting used to not sleeping next to your brother,” she replies as she sits down at the table.
I hold a cup up. “Can I make you some coffee?”
“No thanks, I’m good with my water.”
While I prepare the coffee, I ask, “Is Hunter still looking for a place?”
“Yeah,” she lets out a sigh. “I think Hunter and Jase are looking for a house they can get together.”
While I wait for the coffee pot to fill, I go sit by Jade. “Tell me if it’s none of my business, but why don’t you and Hunter get a place?”
Jade’s eyes snap to mine. “I’m not going to tell him that. The last thing I want is to come across as a clingy girlfriend.”
I reach for her hand and give it a squeeze. “Do you want my opinion?”
Jade nods, the corner of her mouth lifting slightly.
“I know my brother, and he loves you. Tell him you’d like to live with him. I promise you he’ll be happy to hear that.”
“Yeah?”
“Definitely. Hunter probably hasn’t mentioned it because he thinks you want to stay here with Mila.”
Jade leans over to me and gives me a hug. “You’re going to be the best sister-in-law.”
When she lets me go, I get up to pour the coffee. Just then, Carla comes into the kitchen, and I quickly grab another cup. When the beverages are ready, I hand Carla a cup.
I pick up the other two coffees, then Carla says, “Guess who I ran into last night?”
I shake my head and take a sip to get my caffeine fix.
“Kennedy Quinn.” Carla’s eyes lock on mine. “She’s back and enrolled at Trinity.”
“Are you serious?” I gasp, shock vibrating through my body.
No. No. No. No. No.
“Yeah. I thought I’d give you a heads up.”
“Thanks,” I murmur, and I turn to walk down the hallway. Entering Forest’s room, the bed is empty, and the bathroom door is shut. I set his coffee down on the bedside table then go to my own room.
Once I close the door behind me, I stare at the floor.
Oh, my God.
Kennedy Quinn is back.
The shock rocks me to my core, and I struggle to think straight for a moment. Worry claws up my spine, and my hands begin to tremble. I quickly set the cup down on my dresser, and sinking down on the stool, I lift my hands and cover my face.
This can’t be happening. Not now.
Kennedy was Forest’s first love. God, she took his virginity. They were madly in love.
Fear settles hard in my stomach, and I know her returning to the states means nothing good for my budding romance with Forest.
Shit, what if Forest goes back to her?
My heart begins to thunder in my chest, and a lump swells in my throat. I close my eyes against the devastating feelings sweeping through me.
We’ve only been dating for five days. That’s nothing compared to the two years Forest and Kennedy were together.
Do I even stand a chance against her? Kennedy is blonde, gorgeous, outgoing, and… ugh, I’m nothing compared to her. I’m her complete opposite.
My breathing speeds up as the realization that I can lose Forest sinks in like a ten-ton brick, and it brings back memories of Eli and me…
“Look at her tits. You should get yourself a rack like that,” Eli sneers where he’s lying naked next to Taytum, his ex-girlfriend.
I’m still trying to process the shock of finding them together in bed.
Eli cups Taytum’s breast and begins to squeeze it hard, drawing a porn star worthy cry from her. “Yeah, baby, I love it rough.”
Eli grins at me. “That’s how you please a man. No one likes a broken little girl who can’t even come.”
I suck in a strangled breath, panic making my world spin out of control. The memories always take me back to that horrible episode when I caught Eli cheating on me with his ex. It takes me a while to calm down again.
Breathe in.
Come on, Aria. You have no idea what will happen.
Breathe out.
Calm down.
Breathe in.
Forest won’t cheat on you.
When I’ve finally regained control over my emotions, I force myself to get up and begin with my morning routine.
While I’m swiping on some lipgloss, my eyes focus on my reflection. My mind won’t stop racing. I’m filled with memories of Forest and Kennedy making out, of them in love, and it’s torture.
I get dressed in a pair of black pants and my favorite blue shirt that matches my eyes, and I try to take a moment to ground myself.
